DRIFT-NET FISHING. 283 



heads are roped as well as the back, but the foot is left 

 free, so as to be less likely to hitch in anything at the 

 bottom when the nets chance to be used in rather shoal 

 water or near the ground. The back of the net is further 

 fastened at intervals of a few inches by very short lines 

 termed "nossels" or "norsals," to the cork-rope, a small 

 double rope enclosing at various distances pieces of cork 

 to keep that part of the net uppermost, but without suffi- 

 cient buoyancy to float it at the surface. The number of 

 nets used by each vessel depends very much on her size, 

 and in the case of the Yarmouth luggers ranges from 

 eighty to a hundred and thirty, or even more. These are 

 fastened together end to end, and, thus united, form what 

 is called, " a train, fleet, or drift of nets," frequently extend- 

 ing to a distance of more than a mile and a quarter. The 

 mesh of a new herring net is about an inch and a quarter 

 square, equivalent to from 30 to 32 meshes to the yard ; 

 but after long use and frequent barking or tarring, it 

 becomes contracted to an inch, or even less, which is too 

 small to catch the full-sized fish. Twine nets have been 

 hitherto netted by hand, and for convenience in manufac- 

 ture are usually made up of several narrow pieces called 

 " deepings," which are laced together one below the other, 

 there being three or four deepings in the depth of one of 

 these nets. Twine nets are much heavier than those made 

 of cotton, and consequently involve more labour in working 

 them. There is very little doubt also that the compara- 

 tive stiffness of the meshes prevents the fish being easily 

 caught in them. On the other hand it has been said that 

 the sharpness of the fine cotton mesh cuts into the neck of 

 the fish, and tears off the head when the net is being 

 hauled on board. The now general use of cotton nets shows, 

 however, that the objection to them cannot be very serious. 



